Can the elderly get the COVID-19 vaccine? Should they get a booster shot? This article answers the eight questions you care about most.

Today, the Comprehensive Working Group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council for the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic has formulated and issued the "Plan for Strengthening the COVID-19 Vaccination of the Elderly" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), which requires accelerating the vaccination rate for people over 80 years old and continuing to increase the vaccination rate for people aged 60-79 years old [1].

This article will try to answer the 8 most concerned questions:

01

Is it safe for elderly people to get the new coronavirus vaccine?

Vaccination is precisely to protect the safety of the elderly. People aged 60 and above are at high risk of severe illness and death after being infected with the new coronavirus. The new coronavirus vaccines currently on the market have obtained relevant data for use in the elderly, proving that the new coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective for the elderly , and they can be vaccinated with confidence.

02

Are there any people who are contraindicated for the COVID-19 vaccination?

Yes. Specifically, the "Plan" points out that there are four types of people who are contraindicated, and it is recommended to postpone vaccination for the second and third types:

① Severe allergic reactions occurred during previous vaccinations, such as anaphylactic shock and laryngeal edema;

②Acute infectious diseases are in the fever stage;

③ Severe chronic diseases are in the acute stage, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients with hypertensive crisis, myocardial infarction in patients with coronary heart disease, autoimmune nervous system diseases in the progressive stage, and epilepsy patients in the attack stage;

④Life has entered the terminal stage due to serious chronic diseases.

03

So, can elderly people with chronic diseases be vaccinated?

Patients with various chronic diseases, regardless of age, can be vaccinated with the new coronavirus vaccine as long as their health condition is stable, their medication is well controlled, and they are not in the acute stage of the disease.

Specifically, the following common situations are all suitable for COVID-19 vaccination :

Hypertension, heart disease, stents, pacemakers, etc., diabetic patients with blood sugar controlled below 13, stable condition after various tumor surgeries, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, stable cerebrovascular disease, stable condition of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, recovery period after surgery, trauma, fracture, etc., general allergies such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, urticaria (when symptoms are not obvious), etc.

Among them, for patients with malignant tumors , since their immune function may be impaired, the protective effect of the vaccine on this group of people may be reduced. According to the "Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration (First Edition)", it is recommended to vaccinate with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines and recombinant protein vaccines [2].

04

Why do the types of people who are prohibited from using it seem to have decreased now? Is it really safe?

In the early days of the vaccine, due to insufficient data, some people with special health conditions were advised to postpone COVID-19 vaccination. Now, a large amount of real-world data shows that after the relevant population has completed basic immunization and received booster shots, even if they are infected with COVID-19, the probability of severe illness, the incidence of complications, and the possibility of death can be greatly reduced [3].

Ordinary people do not need to worry about whether the elderly in their family are a contraindicated group . They only need to actively cooperate with the doctor's inquiries before vaccination to eliminate hidden dangers.

05

Elderly people rarely go out, so is there no need for them to be vaccinated?

Even if they stay at home, the elderly cannot be isolated from the world and may be infected with the virus when in contact with other people. Since the organs of the elderly are often aged, they cannot tolerate the hypoxia and inflammation that may occur after being infected with the new coronavirus. These symptoms may lead to organ failure or even death. The elderly with serious underlying diseases have weaker physical resistance and should be the focus of protection .

In summary, it is more dangerous for the elderly to be infected with the new coronavirus. As long as there are no contraindications to the vaccine, the benefits of getting the new coronavirus vaccine for the elderly far outweigh the disadvantages .

06

Is it necessary for the elderly to receive booster shots? Should we choose homologous or sequential (heterologous) booster shots?

Yes . After vaccination, our bodies will produce "antibodies" to fight the virus, but over time, the antibodies in the body will slowly be metabolized and the protective effect will weaken [4, 5]. Therefore, we need to "strengthen" our immune system through booster shots to obtain better protection.

Based on the research results on the safety, immunogenicity, effectiveness, and immunity persistence of vaccines, China currently recommends one dose of booster vaccination for people over 18 years old 6 months after completing basic vaccination with inactivated vaccines and adenovirus vector vaccines. For the elderly who have completed basic vaccination with inactivated vaccines and adenovirus vector vaccines 6 months ago, booster vaccination should also be completed as soon as possible.

List of vaccines available for basic immunization and booster shots, Image source: Reference [3]

07

What should elderly people pay attention to when receiving the new coronavirus vaccine?

Judging from the current vaccination situation, the reaction of the elderly to the vaccine is not more serious than that of the young. Therefore, the precautions for vaccination are actually the same as those for young people. Before vaccination, the doctor will confirm the medical history with the elderly to eliminate hidden dangers, and they need to stay for observation for 30 minutes after vaccination. Just pay attention to these two points when vaccinating.

In addition, you should also pay attention to your physical condition after vaccination. If you experience pain at the injection site or low fever, you can generally treat the symptoms. If you feel serious discomfort, seek medical attention as soon as possible. These precautions are actually the same as in daily life.

08

Where to get vaccinated?

The new coronavirus vaccine can be administered at many institutions. For specific information about vaccination units, please consult the local county-level Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Specifically, you can [3]:

① Dial "114" to inquire about the disease control telephone number of your district or county or the vaccination clinic telephone number of the street;

② Use the web map or mobile map software to check the disease control telephone number of your district or county or the vaccination clinic telephone number of the street ;

③ Call the consultation hotline on the official website of the district or county Center for Disease Control and Prevention to inquire about vaccination clinic information;

④Some local mobile applets can make online appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations, and specific information can be found online.

We also need to remind everyone that, in any case, daily hygiene habits cannot be relaxed. Guiding the elderly to wear masks correctly, wash hands correctly, and maintain social distance are also important measures to reduce the chance of virus infection. The following articles can help you and your relatives and friends deal with the confusion during the epidemic. It is recommended to forward and collect this article to find important information in time.

References:

[1] Notice on Issuing a Plan to Strengthen COVID-19 Vaccination for the Elderly [EB/OL]. National Health Commission. 2022-11-29. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/gzzcwj/202211/9bb71c9c7d664fb0bbcd2b3eaaefcf84.shtml

[2] Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration (First Edition) [EB/OL]. National Health Commission. 2021-03-29. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqfkdt/202103/c2febfd04fc5498f916b1be080905771.shtml

[3] Shao Yinan. The COVID-19 situation is severe. How can we protect ourselves and our families? [EB/OL]. Science Popularization China - Starry Sky Project (Creation and Cultivation). Science Popularization China. 2022-11-23. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vZUs7Lf4DwBDJf3Kc3U-vg

[4] Can, Gunay et al. “Waning effectiveness of CoronaVac in real life: A retrospective cohort study in health care workers.” Vaccine vol. 40,18 (2022): 2574-2579. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.03.032

[5] Suah, Jing Lian et al. "Waning COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness for BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in Malaysia: An Observational Study." International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases vol. 119 (2022): 69-76. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2022.03.028

Source: Comprehensive scientific rumor refutation, Science Popularization China WeChat articles and expert interviews

Original reviewer:

Wang Guiqiang, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, and member of the National COVID-19 Medical Treatment Expert Group

Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association

Jin Dong, Associate Researcher, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The cover image of this article is from the copyright library